Forum Discussion
Vertical Line Charts
Hey Everyone! I've been working on this problem for a few days now and I can't get it going. I need to create a vertical line chart. It's easier to show in photos. I have this....
I want it to be rendered like this (created by rotating previous photo).....
What would become the Y-axis (the categories) are text. I've tried just flipping the axes in the "Select Data" dialog box, but I think the problem is that Excel keeps wanting anything on the Y-axis to be numerical rather than textual; it then messes up the values of my data across the X-axis when I try just flipping the two.
Anyone have any ideas? I am not a coder; I can't write VBA. I'd be willing to learn, but I'm in the middle of thesis writing so that would be difficult to add at the moment.
Thanks in advance!
-Mike
7 Replies
- That is a rather unusual way to present data. Have you considered a horizontal bar chart?
I have looked at that, and I can make it work need be. I am aware that this is an unusual presentation. I am an archaeologist, and this is showing counts per excavation level; the presentation makes sense because I can show data points as each level gets deeper. The lines are easier to see than the bars, mainly because I have several different material types which are quantified and presented simultaneously. I would love the horizontal bar charts if I could add a line from data point to data point (rather than a a trend line). However, I cannot find a way to add that either.
I realized I can create a workaround this morning where I reorient the text for my desired outcome, convert the chart to a graphic, then rotate the graphic itself and add an external title. I'd prefer to have a way for Excel to create the chart I need.
You could try:
- Create the chart as Excel defaults to
- Select the cells behind the chart and choose (using the drop-down arrow next to the copy button on the home tab): Copy Picture
- Choose the option you want
- Click where you want the transposed pifture to be and click Paste
- Click in the formula bar, type the equal sign and -again- select the cells underneath the original chart and press enter
- Now rotate the picture (not the chart)
- Try changing anyhting in the chart or its data and see the picture update itself.See attached example
I've tried that approach. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me since my Y-axis is categorical, not numeric. That's a workaround that only functions in the example because of the numerical nature of the categories.
